An infant girl, less than two months old, died in March 2020 in Billings, Montana. The medical examiner determined the baby died of neglect and had suffered multiple broken bones. The child's mother, Samantha May Hance (approximately 19 at the time), left the baby alone with the child's father, then-16-year-old Gilbert Raymond Ortiz, throughout the day while she went to work. Hance saw a decline in the baby's health in the weeks prior to her death and observed Ortiz being rough in handling the baby, yet continued to leave the child in his care. Both parents were initially charged with deliberate homicide. Hance ultimately pleaded guilty to criminal child endangerment under a plea agreement in June 2023, while Ortiz, charged as an adult, continued to face a deliberate homicide charge.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The article states Hance admitted "to leaving her infant child alone with the child's father whom she knew was dangerous." The baby "was left alone with Ortiz throughout the day while Hance went to work." Leaving the child in the care of a person known to be dangerous constitutes inappropriate supervision.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The news article states the baby "suffered multiple broken bones" and that Hance "saw Ortiz be rough in handling her." Multiple broken bones in an infant less than two months old is strong evidence of inflicted injury.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
The news article states the medical examiner "determined the baby died of neglect" and that Hance "saw a decline in the health of her daughter in the weeks prior to her death" yet apparently did not seek medical intervention. This combination of a recognized health decline and a neglect-based cause of death strongly implies medical neglect.
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The article identifies Gilbert Raymond Ortiz as "the father of her child" who was charged with deliberate homicide. The baby was left alone with Ortiz and suffered multiple broken bones and neglect leading to death. Ortiz was directly involved in the child's death.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Samantha May Hance, the biological mother, pleaded guilty to criminal child endangerment. She admitted to leaving the baby with the father "whom she knew was dangerous" and "saw a decline in the health of her daughter in the weeks prior to her death" without intervening. She was directly involved in the child's death through her negligence.
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Both parents were charged. Samantha May Hance pleaded guilty to criminal child endangerment. Gilbert Raymond Ortiz, though 16 at the time, "was charged as an adult" with deliberate homicide and is "still facing a deliberate homicide charge." Hance herself was also an adult at the time of the incident (approximately 19 years old).
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The article states that the day after his daughter's death, "Ortiz was allegedly trying to arrange to buy marijuana from his friends." Additionally, the plea agreement included "strict probationary rules barring Hance from drugs and alcohol," which suggests a possible substance use concern for the mother as well.
Notable Details
The news article contains several notable details: (1) Both parents were teenagers at the time of the incident — the mother was approximately 19 and the father was 16. (2) The father, despite being 16, was charged as an adult with deliberate homicide. (3) The mother's charge was reduced from deliberate homicide to criminal child endangerment through a plea agreement, which the judge herself said "was not an easy agreement for me to make." (4) Detectives obtained a warrant to search the couple's Facebook messages, which revealed Ortiz "was allegedly trying to arrange to buy marijuana from his friends" the day after his daughter's death. (5) The judge added 1,000 hours of community service to Hance's plea agreement.
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